*4.1. Materials*

Acros-Organics company was the supplier of Chitosan (CS) with a molecular weight of 100,000–300,000 (Zeel West Zone 2, Janssen Pharmaceuticalan 3a, B2440, Geel, Belgium). Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) (low molecular weight i.e., 13,000–23,000, hydrolysis degree 87–89%) was purchased by SIGMA-ALDRICH (Co., 3050 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO, USA, 314-771-5765). Nanocor Inc. was provided the powder nanoclay (2870 Forbs Avenue, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA). Montmorillonite which contained 1.53% halloysite nanotubes (Al2Si2O5(OH)4·2H2O, 99.5% clay, 1.68% CaO, 3.35% Fe2O3, 62.9% SiO2, 19.6% Al2O3, and 3.05% MgO) was obtained by Sigma-Aldrich (product 685445, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The used Thyme Oil (TO) was produced by the Chemco company (Via Achille Grandi, 13–13/A, 42030 Vezzanosul, Crostolo, Italy).
